Ros-Lehtinen Condemns Cowardly Detention & Beating Of Cuban Blogger Yoani Sanchez; States That Regime Is Intimidated By "Sanchez's Matter Of Fact Descriptions Of Life in Cuba"

Statement

Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) issued the following statement on the unjust and cowardly detention and beating of Cuban blogger, Ms. Yoani Sanchez, at the hands of Cuban State security agents.

Ros-Lehtinen's statement:

"Yoani has been targeted by the Cuban tyranny for speaking truth to power and seeking to remove the veil of silence that the regime seeks to maintain on its repression and gross violations of fundamental freedoms. Her non-political and matter of fact blog statements on the struggles of everyday Cubans sends a chill down the back of Fidel and Raul Castro.

As we mark the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the beginning of the demise of communism in Eastern Europe, we must not forget about those 90 miles from US shores still suffering under the iron grip of Cuba's communist dictatorship.

Freedom prevailed over communism in Europe because democratic nations joined forces and stood squarely with those fighting for their fundamental rights.

It is time for free, democratic nations to make that commitment to the Cuban people. The U.S. must take the lead and stop its appeasement of the Cuban tyranny. We must demand an immediate end to the mistreatment and harassment of peaceful dissidents; the liberation of all prisoners of conscience; and that the Cuban people be allowed to exercise their rights free of intimidation, harassment, or imprisonment."